— Illinois Senate President John Cullerton , 63, has served in the General Assembly since 1979. The North Side Democrat also has led the state Senate since 2009. We caught up with him Monday at the Illinois delegation's first breakfast meeting. Q: Do conventions matter anymore? A: Absolutely. You see that after a convention, historically there's a bump in the polls for the party that just had the convention, then I guess it definitely matters. It does make sure that people know, right around Labor Day , when people start to pay attention, what the platform is about and what the candidate stands for. Q: Who are looking forward to hearing speak this week, other than the top of the ticket?

SPRINGFIELD, ILL. The president of the Illinois Senate said Wednesday that Democratic Gov. Rod Blagojevich wants to make a closing statement at his impeachment trial. Sen. John Cullerton told colleagues the governor has asked for the time today. Cullerton says Blagojevich isn't asking to testify. That would involve his answering questions from senators. Blagojevich has refused to take part in the trial so far, spending the time on a media blitz instead. He says Senate impeachment-trial rules are unfair and that he has done nothing wrong.

I found Thomas K. Cullerton's Feb. 26 "My Word" article, "Eminem exploits black music," very disheartening. He expressed indignation, not at the content of Eminem's "offensive" lyrics but rather that Eminem "copy cats and exploits the black music experience as his own in order to make money." What a sad commentary that any race would be so enthusiastic to claim Eminen's vile, disgusting messages in his songs. Has Cullerton ever really listened to Eminem's songs? If he has, his pride in that kind of "music" is astonishing and represents a lot of what's wrong in society today.

NEWTOWN, Conn. - Brenda Cullerton, an advertising copywriter and an author, is a connoisseur of stories, a reader so voracious that she hides her habit by stuffing bags of new books into the corners of her family's Manhattan loft. Indeed, her husband, Richard DeLigter, a commercial film director, once had a T-shirt made for her that read, "Why Read When You Can Skim?" And so it was that in March, when Cullerton and DeLigter bought a 1930s Cape Cod house in southwestern Connecticut as a weekend retreat for themselves and their children -- Jack, 18, and Nora, 13 -- they filled the place with stories.

I feel compelled to respond to the letter from Thomas K. Cullerton, which addressed, among other things, the missile-defense shield. Cullerton states that before the United States proceeds with the concept, it should be put to a vote. It has. Why else would China and Russia be so adamant about it, their votes being adamantly against it? And how about some of the European nations? They are against it because they sell hardware to rogue nations -- for example, Iran -- that would have that hardware shot down if we develop our system.

Town meetings on the prospects of war or peace in the Middle East will be held at 2 and 4 p.m. Saturday at the Mount Zion Baptist Church, 535 W. Washington St., Orlando.Speakers include conscientious objector Tom Cullerton, Arab-American Khled Diab, Quaker Joan Faulkner, retired Air Force Col. Mort Lunsford and Orlando Sentinel columnist Charley Reese. For details, call 422-3479.

SPRINGFIELD, ILL. The president of the Illinois Senate said Wednesday that Democratic Gov. Rod Blagojevich wants to make a closing statement at his impeachment trial. Sen. John Cullerton told colleagues the governor has asked for the time today. Cullerton says Blagojevich isn't asking to testify. That would involve his answering questions from senators. Blagojevich has refused to take part in the trial so far, spending the time on a media blitz instead. He says Senate impeachment-trial rules are unfair and that he has done nothing wrong.

NEWTOWN, Conn. - Brenda Cullerton, an advertising copywriter and an author, is a connoisseur of stories, a reader so voracious that she hides her habit by stuffing bags of new books into the corners of her family's Manhattan loft. Indeed, her husband, Richard DeLigter, a commercial film director, once had a T-shirt made for her that read, "Why Read When You Can Skim?" And so it was that in March, when Cullerton and DeLigter bought a 1930s Cape Cod house in southwestern Connecticut as a weekend retreat for themselves and their children -- Jack, 18, and Nora, 13 -- they filled the place with stories.

The division of Iraq into three zones represents a human failure. This policy reflects this administration's limited capacity to comprehend the whole. As such, the Iraqi people deserve the right to self-determination in the same manner our forefathers did. The words "We the People" are enduring because the colonies sought separation and freedom from British rule. By this guiding principle, there cannot be any occupation of Iraq by the United States; the Iraqi people deserve the responsibility of freedom and democracy in their own time.

I feel compelled to respond to the letter from Thomas K. Cullerton, which addressed, among other things, the missile-defense shield. Cullerton states that before the United States proceeds with the concept, it should be put to a vote. It has. Why else would China and Russia be so adamant about it, their votes being adamantly against it? And how about some of the European nations? They are against it because they sell hardware to rogue nations -- for example, Iran -- that would have that hardware shot down if we develop our system.

IF MANY of us had our way, the celebrity chickens of Oviedo's celebrated downtown intersection would have made the most-wanted list long ago.Motorists daily get caught in a tricky game of ``chicken,'' having to brake or swerve to get past these cocky jaywalkers. The fowl have apparently been raised by their elders to assume they have right of way in their meanderings.The solution is simple. Popeye's can add one or two more pieces to its manager's specials as a promotion for the size of its servings.

I AM A former solider who was discharged earlier this year and does not want to participate in Operation Desert Shield.I love this country, and I am fighting for the principles of our Constitution. I will not fight for corporate flag-wavers and politicians.The people who tell me love it or leave it, I have a message for them: You love it or leave it. I am democracy in action. If you want a war so bad, the recruiting station is right down the street. My brothers and sisters must not be sent into battle to die for these armchair patriots.

I found Thomas K. Cullerton's Feb. 26 "My Word" article, "Eminem exploits black music," very disheartening. He expressed indignation, not at the content of Eminem's "offensive" lyrics but rather that Eminem "copy cats and exploits the black music experience as his own in order to make money." What a sad commentary that any race would be so enthusiastic to claim Eminen's vile, disgusting messages in his songs. Has Cullerton ever really listened to Eminem's songs? If he has, his pride in that kind of "music" is astonishing and represents a lot of what's wrong in society today.

IF MANY of us had our way, the celebrity chickens of Oviedo's celebrated downtown intersection would have made the most-wanted list long ago.Motorists daily get caught in a tricky game of ``chicken,'' having to brake or swerve to get past these cocky jaywalkers. The fowl have apparently been raised by their elders to assume they have right of way in their meanderings.The solution is simple. Popeye's can add one or two more pieces to its manager's specials as a promotion for the size of its servings.